Two Years After Gaining Federal Funding, Florida Still Not Accepting Applications for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

In the nearly two years since Florida was first approved to receive $198 million in federal funds over a five-year period to expand its EV charging network, the state has made hardly any progress in spite of growing interest from businesses to participate, reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Florida is one of 15 states that has yet to begin accepting applications from businesses to open EV charging stations. With the state being home to the second-largest number of EVs in the U.S., its delay in implementing charging infrastructure is impacting many, according to Ryan McKinnon, a spokesperson for the Charge Ahead Partnership.

Indeed, criticism has grown against the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program for not progressing fast enough–but much of this is due to states dragging their feet, claimed McKinnon.

“It has had, and continues to have, a negative effect on the EV transition,” told Nick Howe, president of the Tesla Owners Florida club. “I don’t think we can underestimate the importance of giving people the peace of mind that (charging) just isn’t going to be an issue.”